Article-handler



I A. D. THEODORE (WHOSE FULL LEGAL NAME IS T. D. ANAGNOSTOPUULOS.)

ARTICLE HANDLER.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE I5, 191s.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANOSTOPOULO D. kTHEODORE., WHOS FUIJL LEGALNAME IS THEODORE D. ANAG- NOSTOPOULOS, OFEUNICE, LOUISIANA.

ARTICLE-HANDLER.

Specification pf Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed .Tune 15, 1918. Serial No. 240,266.

To all whom z'tmag/ concern:

Be it known that I, ANos'roroULo D. THEoDonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eunice, in the parish of St, Landry and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Article-Handlers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved articlehandler, and has forrts primary ob ject to provide a very convenient and serviceable device for removing goods from store shelves, detaching or replacing electric light bulbs, and for various other analogous purposes.

It is a more particular object of the inventionv to provide a device for the above purpose embodying a Sectional. rod or pole, article engaging means'on one endet the pole havingV yieldable, relatively movable parts, and relatively stationary means with relation to which said pole is adapted to be shifted and which, when the pole is moved in one direction,rcoacts with the parts of the article holder to urge the same into clamping engagement with an article.

It is also a further object of my invention to provide a device for the above Vpurpose which is strong and durable in its construction, capable of manufacture at relatively small cost, and the several parts of which can be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled. Y

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved construction, combination and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, showing the clamping means engaged with an article;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the means for detachably connecting the pole sections and the tubular guide sections;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a slightly modified form of the article holder. or clamp; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a cutting attachment, with which the device may be equipped. Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the several sections of an outer tubular guide, which are preferably constructed of sheet metal. Each of' these sections is interiorly threaded at one end and exterior-ly threaded at its other end. Thus, it will be readily seen that by simply connecting the exteriorly threaded end of one section to the interiorly threaded end of an adjacent section, a tubular guide of any desired length may be produced. One of these guide sections 5 may be provided with a suitable handle, indicated at G, whereby it may be conveniently grasped and held.

Through the outer tubular guide sections 5, a pole is movably engaged and this pole likewise consists of a plurality of sections 7. These pole sections are provided at their opposite ends with metal fer-rules 8, and one of these ferrules is interiorly threaded at its opposite ends to engage the reduced ends of the section 7, so that a series of pole sections can be readily connected or disconnected in the same manner as the tubular guide sections 5. To one end of the pole, an article holder or clamp is adapted to be connected. This clamp includes a metal sleeve or ferrule 9 exteriorly threaded to engage into the interiorly threaded ierrule on the end of the pole section. As shown in Figs. l and 2, spaced clamping members 10 are securely fixed in any suitable manner to the other end of the errule 9. These members preferably consist of spring metal strips normally extending in divergent relation to each other and provided at their free ends with the inwardly bent lips 11.

In the use of the device as above described, when it is desired to remove a can, package or other article from a high shelf, the operator securely holds the tubular guide at its lower end by grasping the handle 6, and with the other hand the pole is lirst projected beyond the upper end of the tubular guide and the clamping arms 10 positioned on opposite sides of the article. The guide is then moved upwardly upon the pole so that its upper end will engage with Y the resilient arms 1,0 and force the` same ined form` of the article clamp or holder which is principally designed for removingV or applying electric light bulbs.

In this construction, the end of the ferrule 9 is provided' with a relatively large number of diverging spring arms 10 having-the terminallips 11. rFliese spring arms are adapted tofbe positioned around the glass bulb and by then urging the tubular guide upwardly they may be clamped thereon so that by rotating the pole extending through the guide the bulb can be readily removed from its socket. It can also be as readily replaced by a similar operation.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have shown another supplementary attachment which be iised for the purpose of priming trees and various other cutting operations. In this construction, the end ferriile for the pole is provided with the resilient metal arms 10.1 extending from the pole in divergentrelation and said arms being twisted intermediate of their ends as at 12 to dispose the outer end portions of the arms to a plane at right angles to their inner end portions and Yin intersecting relation upon eachv other as shown at 13. At the point of intersection, the outer ends of the.

arms are connected by a pivot pin or rivet 1st. The opposed edges of the intersecting poi'- tions of the arms at their outer ends are properly sharpened'so that when iiioved relative to. each other they will perform a shearing orcuttingl action. Thus in the use of this form of my invention, when the guide is Vshifted outwardly on the pole, and upon Y the innerV end portionsl of the arms 10a, they will be forced toward each other and the intersecting outer end portions of the arms moved upon the connecting pivot to cut or V sever the branch or other object whiehis clearly-and fully understood. The device as Vofthe detachable sections for the pole andV a whole is exceedingly simple, strong and durable, and is very convenient and serviceable in practical use. Any desired number thetubi'ilar guide may be provided? sorthat the device can 'be` made of anyvpreferred length. When not in use, the sections may In Fig. et ofV be disconnected'v and compatly bound together so that they will occupy but little space.

The giiiding'handle is capable of" being lengthened or shortened, and this accomplished by adding or eliminating certain. of the tubular sections 5, since they are threaded unitedly together. VIlVhen the tubular sections 5 are joined as shown and described, an elongated handle is afforded, and since the handle is capable of being lengthened or Y shortened, it is possible to reach high.. or'. low shelvesf The pole is mounted to reciprecate in theV handle, and is also capable of being lengthened or shortened correspondingly to the handle. This pole, as previously stated, comprises the poleor rod sections 7 having their adjacent ends pro-V vided with reduced threaded parts, to be engaged by Va plurality of connecting sleeves. By rotating the sleevesy in one direetion or the other, the pole or rod sections may laeextendechfor increasing or decreasing the length ofthe movement of the poleor rod. Furthermore, the slidable re` cipfroeating rod or pole has a handlein one end to limit the rod in its movement Yin one direction, while the other end of the rod has a sleeve similar to the firstV sleeve 8, con nected to a threaded part .ofl one of therod sections. A member is threaded into the last mentioned sleeve, and carries a plug rality of resilient` Vextensions adapted toY move from and towardeaeh other. These extensions 10V terminate in rigid cutting. elements, which assume positions at slight obtuse angles to the extensions. These cutting elements extend rigidlyV from the re'v silientextensions, and are crossed andpivotally united. The twisted parts 12,7where 105 the cutting elements of the resilient exten sions join, are ladapted t0 contact with the extremity ofthe inner surface of. one end ofthe guiding handle to, limitl the4 rod or pole in its movement in its oppositey direcv tion. The resilient extensions are adapted to ride against the inner surface ofy the extremity of one of the guiding` handles., to cause thecutting elements to rock or pivot relatively. to each other, for the pur. 115 pose of causing the edges tov impart cutting actions on` anyl suitable material, which may be remote from the other end of the guiding handle. f 1Whilevthe'se elements are designed. for cutting purposes, -it is obvious 120 that they are-'also adapted for useV as clamp:- ing. jaws, so as'to grip` an object between them. j

While I vhave referredto several. different forms of the article engaging device, it is 12b manifest thatI numerous otherforms. might be devised which canbeeoperated byV a shift-1 ing movement of the outer-tubular guideas above explained. It is further tobe notedV Y that thetubular guide sections. and the pole diameter and the pole, as Well as the guide.I can be entirely constructed of sheet metal if preferred. The device is susceptible of many other modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of its several parts, and it is therefore to be understood that l. reserve the privilege of resorting to all such alternative constructions as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim ln an article handler, the combination with an elongated tubular guiding handle comprising a plurality of axially alined united threaded sections, whereby the guiding handle may be shortened or extended, of a pole movable slidably in said guiding handle having a handle at one end to limity the pole in its movement in one direction, said pole comprising a plurality of rod sections axially arranged, the adjacent end of said rod sections having reduced threaded parts, a sleeve interiorly threaded, and adjustably connecting said reduced threaded parts for uniting said rod sections, whereby the movable rod may be shortened or lengthened correspondingly to the guiding handle, an additional sleeve interiorly threaded connected to a certain reduced threaded part of an end rod section, and a. member threaded into one end of said additional sleeve, and provided with spaced longitudinal extensions resiliently movable toward and from each other, said extensions terminating in rigid intersecting pivoted elements extending at slight obtuse angles from the resilient extensions, said extensions having parts, adjacent where the elements merge therefrom, adapted to contact and cooperate with the extremity of the interior of one end of said guiding handle, thereby limiting the pole 1n its movement in the opposite direction, said resilient extensions when moved toward and from each other by contact with the extremity of the guiding handle, adapted to actuate said elements.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANOSTOPOULO D. THEODORE.

Witnesses:

T. V. WILLIAMS, HENRY LANDRY. 

